Treating polluted gases in baffle chamber

ABSTRACT

For decontaminating, and deodorizing or otherwise treating polluted gases, a stream of gases is introduced into one end and at a lower zone of a baffle chamber which is thoroughly baffled to prevent channelization of the gases therethrough. Spray means discharge a fine mist of decontaminating fluid into the stream of polluted gases closely adjacent their low point of entry into the baffle chamber and in such a direction that the fine mist of spray material is entrained in the incoming gases. As the polluted gases rise and proceed in tortuous paths through the baffle chamber the malodorous chemical elements therein are intimately exposed to the oxidation reduction reaction of the oxidizing agents in the entrained spray material causing drop out of contaminants as a new chemical so that when the gases are discharged from the baffle chamber they are thoroughly reduced to a nonodorous or acceptable odor compound.

United States Patent Charles C. Diehl 904 Ruth St., Belmont, Calif.94002 [2]] Appl. No. 870,430

[22] Filed Oct. 3, I969 [45] Patented July 27, I971 Continuation-impartof application Ser. No. 708,354, Feb. 26, 1968, now abandoned.

[72] Inventor [54] TREATING POLLUTED GASES IN BAFFLE [50] Field ofSearch 55/84, 89, 93,94, l85l88,223,257,235237,465; 261/74, 76, 78,118

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,802,546 8/1957 Clark 55223 Primary ExaminerReuben Friedman Assistant ExaminerCharles N. HartAtt0rneyLeslie M. Hansen I ABSTRACT: For decontaminating, anddeodorizing or otherwise treating polluted gases, a stream of gases isintroduced into one end and at a lower zone of a baffle chamber which isthoroughly baffled to prevent channelization of the gases therethrough.Spray means discharge a fine mist of decontaminating fluid into thestream of polluted gases closely adjacent their low point of entry intothe baffle chamber and in such a direction that the fine mist of spraymaterial is entrained in the incoming gases. As the polluted gases riseand proceed in tortuous paths through the baffle chamber the malodorouschemical elements therein are intimately exposed to the oxidationreduction reaction of the oxidizing agents in the entrained spraymaterial causing drop out of contaminants as a new chemical so that whenthe gases are discharged from the baffle chamber they are thoroughlyreduced to a nonodorous or acceptable odor compound.

PATENTEnauLznsn 3.594880 INVENTOR. CHARLES C. .D/EHL.

BY gfiamw flrram/sv.

TREATING POLLUTED GASES IN BAFFLE CHAMBER This application is acontinuation-in-part of my copending application Ser. No. 708,354, filedon Feb. 26, 1968, and now abandoned.

BACKGROUND This invention relates to an apparatus for treating pollutedgases by creating better oxidation reduction by molecular con tion ofgases into the upper zone of baffle chambers forpassage through adownward spray of fluid and/or into and through a level of such fluidplus agitation therewith for the purpose of washing out and removing anyheavier than air particles from such gases. No chemical action, such asoxidation reduction is involved. In other words, prior known scrubbersare mainly directed to the filtering out of solids and compounds carriedby the gases being treated; They are principally air cleaners or airconditioners as distinguished'from';

rendering such gases inodorous.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION The present invention contemplates decontaminationand deodorization of polluted gases such as exude from sewage systems,manufacturing plants, slaughter houses, scavenger rendering plants andthe like. Such gases usually include sulfides and other malodorousnoxious elements in volatile form to the detriment and olifactivedispleasure of people in adjoining property and areas. The presentinvention is directed to, an apparatus for treating such polluted gasesto render them nonodorous or to reduce them to an acceptable odorcompound. This can be accomplished by subjecting the polluted gases toan oxidizing agent whereby a chemical reaction takes place in which theodoriferous contaminants in the gases is changed to a compound and theremaining'gases reduced to a nonodorous or acceptable odorous condition.This entails the wellknown principle of oxidation reduction, the presentinvention being directed to a method and apparatus by which oxidationreduction can be carried out in a simpleand.

economical manner.

To treat odors to deodorize them into a condition wherein they are notperceptive oroffensive to the olifactory senses of human beings veryoften does not require full chemical reduc-- tion of the sulfides orother odoriferous elements. In order to reduce such odoriferous elementsdown to an inoffensive or acceptable. odor compound they must besubjected to an oxidizing agent sufficiently to bring about the chemicalchange. Since by nature suitable nontoxic oxidizers are inorganic andnonvolatile, contact must be made between the molecular structure ofboth the oxidizing agent and the contaminants in the gases. The presentinvention seeks to accomplish this phenomenon by creating a bettermolecular contact between the chemical oxidizing agent and the pollutedgases.

The present invention seeks to accomplish oxidation reduction quickly ina minimum of space and in an effective manner such as to reduce thegaseous compound to a nonodorous or acceptable odor compound. It furtherseeks to accomplish this chemical change by an economical feature ofinitially treating the gases with an atomized cloud or fine vaporizedspray mist of the oxidizing chemical solution rather than merely passingthe gases through a falling spray of the solution in liquid form orthrough-a bath thereof. To this end it is an object of the presentinvention to provide a baffle chamber constructed in multiplecompartments in which the contaminated gases first enter the lowerregion of a mixing compartment sozbaffled as to effect recirculation andthorough admixture of the gases with an oxidant containing chemicalcompound in' vaporized mist form. The vaporized admixture isrecirculated prior to ascension of the vaporized mixture to an upperzone of the mixing compartment where it communicates with a secondbaffled compartment. The object here is to create better molecularcontact between the contaminants in the gases and the chemical oxidizingagents inthe spray to thereby accelerate oxidation reduction within themixing compartment whereby the contaminants are changed into a chemicalcompound or a natural element. These chemical compounds or elements thusbecome solids which are heavier than the remaining vapor and thereforedrop out prior to ascension and passage of the remaining gaseous vaporsover into the upper region of a second .baffled'compartment. The-secondbaffled compartment is so bafiled that the remaining vaporized gases indescending through tortuous obstructing passages effect a continuationof the swirling and recirculating action of the vaporized admixtureresulting in further oxidation reduction and drop out of heavieroxidized chemical compounds therefrom. It is a further object totransfer the-remaining vaporized gaseous mixture from the bottom of thesecond compartment into the lower region of a third baffled compartmentwherein and by reason of the baffled interior thereof the vaporizedgases are caused to swirl and recirculate to further effect oxidationreduction and cause any remaining heavier chemical compounds or elementsthus created to drop out prior to ascension of the treated vaporizedgases to the upper region of the third compartment for discharge fromthe baffle chamber. Inthis manner the treated gases are reduced to anonodorous or acceptable odor compound.

A preferred baffle chamber for the practice of the invention is shown inthe accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the battle chamber, amajor portion of anend closure plate and the top and near sidewalls of a'rectangular,tubular unit being broken away.

FIG. 2 is a vertical, longitudinal, sectional view in reduced scale ofthe left hand compartment of the baffle chamber shown in FIG. 1, arrowsindicating generally the direction of gas flow therethrough.

FIG. 3 is a similar sectional view through the central compartment ofthe baffle chamber.

' FIG. 4 is a similar sectional view through the right-hand compartmentof the baffle chamber.

FIG. 5 is a side-elevational view. in reduced scale of a double-lengthbaffle chamber.

Referring to the drawings in detail, an illustrative baffle chamber A(FIG. 1) comprises a generally rectangular tubular unit 10.; whichpreferably is made of fiberglass, and is formed by laying up glassfiber, for example, in woven, mat, or chopped-fiber form, wetted with asuitable plastic, such as, for ex ample, polyethylene, on a rectangular,collapsible core of a conventional type, not shown. End flanges 11 and12 are provided on the rectangular, tubular unit 10, and end plates 13and 14 are secured in sealed relation to opposite ends thereof by bolts15. Partitions l7 and 18 are provided in the baffle chamber A to dividethe interior of the baffle chamber into three compartments, comprising aleft-hand mixing compartment 19, a central compartment 20, and aright-hand compartment 21.

A gas inlet pipe 22 is fitted into an opening provided therefor in thelower left-hand portion of the end plate 13 and polluted gases areforced through this inlet pipe under selected pressure into the mixingcompartment 19 by suitable means such as a conventional sirocco blower23 (FIG. 5). Spray means, comprising an air pressure spray nozzle 24 onthe end of a high-pressure fluid supply line 25 is directed to dischargea sprayorfine fog mist 27 (FIG. 2) of oxidant containing fluid into andacross the stream of incoming gases discharged into the baffle chamberthrough the gas inlet'pipe 22. A conventional air pressure spray pump,such as that shown at 28 in FIG. 5 supplies the oxidant containing fluidto the nozzle 24 at a selected pressure such as to create a vaporizedmist or fog-like cloud of gas-oxidant mixture.

An inclined lower baffle 29 is provided in the mixing compartment 19above the incoming admixture of gases and vaporized oxidant adjacent thepipe 22. The inclined baffle 29 is'spaced from the end plate 13 with itslower end adjacent the inlet pipe 22 so as to cause a recirculation ofthe gas-oxidants vapor in the mixing compartment 19 as indicated by thearrows a in FIG. 2. Thus molecular contact between the chemical oxidantsin the spray and contaminants in the gases takes place. A massiveoxidation reduction thus takes place in the lower region of the mixingcompartment 19 causing oxidized contaminants to drop out prior toascension of the gaseous admixture. A pipe 30 is provided in the bottomof the mixing compartment I9 to drain off any condensate and heavierchemical rcsultants of the oxidation reduction.

A limbcr hole 3l is provided in the lower edge of the first partition l7to afford similar drainage from the central compartment 20.

Three baffles 32, 33, and 34 extend entirely through all threecompartments I9, 20, and 21 of the baffle chamber A, as shown in FIG. 1.Each of these three baffle members 32, 33, and 34 is inserted throughaligned, slotted openings provided therefor in both partitions 17 and18. The baffle 34 is mounted closely adjacent the far end plate 14,while the baffle 32 is spaced from the near end plate 13, the baffles32, 33 and 34 being substantially on the same horizontal plane, andspaced apart equally. A pair of notches 37 and 38 are provided in theupper end of the first partition 17, for communicating the mixingcompartment with the central compartment. A pair of baffles 39 and 40are mounted on the lower sides of these respective notches 37 and 38such that the baffles 39 and 40 extend from the near side of the mixingcompartment 19 to the second partition 18 in offset relation to thebaffles 32, 33 and 34.

The second partition 18 has a pair of notches 41 and 42 in the lower endthereof similar to and in alignment below the upper notches 37 and 38 inthe first partition 17. A pair of baffles 43 and 44, generaly similar toand in alignment below the upper baffles 39 and 40, are mounted on theupper sides of these respective notches 41 and 42 and extend across boththe central and right-hand compartments 20 and 21, respectively. A gasoutlet pipe 45 of substantially the same diameter as the inlet pipe 22is provided in the top of the rectangular unit substantially centrallyof the right-hand compartment 21.

In the event that increased capacity may be desired, two or more of therectangular units 10 may be bolted together, end to end, as shown inFIG. 5, and end plates provided on the ends of the enlarged or doublelength unit thus provided. Baffles in the two units 10 and 10 may besimilar to the single unit 10 shown in (FIGS. l-4).

In using the invention, a stream of polluted gases is discharged as bysuitable blower means 23 (FIG. 5) through the inlet pipe 22 into themixing chamber A, concurrent with a spray 27 of suitable fluidcontaining a chemical compound of a type known to oxidize thecontaminants in the specific gases being treated. The oxidizing solutionis discharged as by means of conventional air pressure means 28 (FIG.5), through the spray nozzle 24 into the stream of incoming gases in theform of a fine fog-like mist for entrainment therein. Recirculation ofthis vaporized admixture in the lower region of the mixing compartmentfacilitates molecular contact between the chemical oxidants andcontaminants in the gases causing a chemical change to take place. Theoxidized contaminants as a new chemical become heavier than thevaporized cloud of gas-oxidant mixture. These heavier new chemicals dropout of the vaporized gas-oxidant mixture prior to ascension to thenotches 37-38 in the upper zone of the mixing compartment. As the gasesentrained with vaporized oxident spray particles traverse their tortuouspaths through the three compartments 19, and 21 of the baffle chamber A,they are thoroughly exposed to the oxidation reduction ac tion of theentrained spray material, so that when discharged through the outletpipe 45 they are thoroughly decontaminated and deodorizcd.

It will be noted that the right-hand compartment 21 is free of bafflesin its upper region adjacent the discharge outlet 45.

By this arrangement agitation of the airstream slows down. Reduction invelocity and expansion of the vaporized gas-oxidant admixture duringfinal ascension allows for condensation and dehydration of thedecontaminated gases prior to final exhaust. The discharge from the pipe45 is a slight vapor which quickly evaporates upon contact with outsideair.

The invention is intended for use particularly in installations wherepolluted gases are discharged into, or collect in, a closed compartmentof some type from which the gases can be pumped for discharge at fairlyhigh velocity through a pipe 22 into the mixing chamber A.

In a test setup, two of the rectangular tubular members 10 were boltedtogether, as shown in FIG. 5 to form a baffle chamber 4 feet by 4 feetby 8 feet, the basic rectangular tubular members It) and I0 employedbeing each 4 feet by 4 feet by 4 feet. Polluted gases were dischargedinto this baffle chamber at the rate of450500 c.f.m. and at a linealspeed of approximately l,500 f.m. Spray means were provided generallysimilar to the spray means shown in FIG. 1, and oxidizing fluid wasintroduced through the spray means at the rate of 2.4 gallons per hour.This setup provided an oxidation reduction action on the polluted gaseswhich was unifonn and effective.

The invention is easy to install, relatively inexpensive to build anduse, and when all of the parts are made of fiberglass, which is apreferred material, is capable of processing most types of pollutedgases and deodorizing materials for indefinite periods, since thefiberglass is not subject to corrosion by most such gases and materials.

While I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention itwill'be obvious that various modifications can be made therein withoutdeparting from the scope of the appended claims.

Iclaim:

l. A mechanism for treating polluted gases by oxidation reductioncomprising:

a baffle chamber having a gas inlet in the lower region of one endthereof and having also a gas discharge outlet at a high point thereofand spaced remotely from the gas inlet,

blower means connected to the gas inlet for forcibly inserting pollutedgases into the baffle chamber, a plurality of bafiles'mounted in thebaffle chamber between the gas inlet and the gas outlet and sopositioned as to create eddy currents in and prevent any directchanneling of gases within the chamber from the inlet to the outlet, airpressure spray means mounted at the zone of entrance of gases forciblyinserted into the baffle chamber via said gas inlet and directed intoand across a stream of gases as they enter the baffle chamber, and meansfor forcing oxidizing fluid into and thorough the air pressure spraymeans for discharge therefrom in the form of a fine fog spray mist intoand across a stream of polluted gases forcibly entering the lower regionof said baffle chamber for entrainment in and vaporized admixture withsuch stream of incoming gases to thereby facilitate molecular contactbetween the oxidants in said oxidizing fluid and the contaminants insaid polluted gases prior to ascension of such gases toward said gasdischarge outlet, and an inclined baffle plate disposed transversely ofand in the lower region of said baffle chamber and in spaced relation tosaid gas inlet and with its lower end nearest to and overlying thestream of gases therefrom to thereby create a negative pressure aboveand adjacent said inlet for recirculating a major portion of thevaporized gas-oxidant admixture in the lower region of said bafflechamber prior to ascension of the remaining gases toward said dischargeoutlet.

2. A mechanism for treating polluted gases as in claim 1 wherein saidbaffle chamber comprises:

a rectangular housing;

a first and a second partition in spaced relation within said housingfor dividing said baffle chamber into a plurality of compartmentsincluding a mixing compartment at the gas inlet end; a dischargecompartment at the gas outlet end and a centralcompartment therebetween;

spaced notches at the upper end of the first partition between'themixing and central compartments for communicating the same;

spaced notches at the lower end of the second partition between thecentral and discharge compartment for communicating the same and in aplane comparable to the notches in said first partition;

upper baffle means at the lower margin of the notches in said firstpartition and traversing both of said mixing and central compartments;

lower baffle means at the upper margin of the notches in I said secondpartition and traversing said central and discharge compartments inspaced relation below said upper baffle means; and a plurality ofintermediate baffles extending through each of said first and secondpartitions and across each of said compartments in offset relation tothe plane of said upper and lower baffle 'means.

3. A mechanism for treating polluted gases as claimed in claim 2 whereinthe rectangular housing comprises a plurality of similar, rectangularunits of similar cross-sectional size and shape connected together,end-to-end to divide the same into additional pairs of centralcompartments by similarly notched partitions and form a continuous,elongated baffle chamber of multiple units.

2. A mechanism for treating polluted gases as in claim 1 wherein saidbaffle chamber comprises: a rectangular housing; a first and a secondpartition in spaced relation within said housing for dividing saidbaffle chamber into a plurality of compartments including a mixingcompartment at the gas inlet end, a discharge compartment at the gasoutlet end and a central compartment therebetween; spaced notches at theupper end of the first partition between the mixing and centralcompartments for communicating the same; spaced notches at the lower endof the second partition between the central and discharge compartmentfor communicating the same and in a plane comparable to the notches insaid first partition; upper baffle means at the lower margin of thenotches in said first partition and traversing both of said mixing andcentral compartments; lower baffle means at the upper margin of thenotches in said second partition and traversing said central anddischarge compartments in spaced relation below said upper baffle means;and a plurality of intermediate baffles extending through each of saidfirst and second partitions and across each of said compartments inoffset relation to the plane of said upper and lower baffle means.
 3. Amechanism for treating polluted gases as claimed in claim 2 wherein therectangular housing comprises a plurality of similar, rectangular unitsof similar cross-sectional size and shape connected together, end-to-endto divide the same into additional pairs of central compartments bysimilarly notched partitions and form a continuous, elongated bafflechamber of multiple units.